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WILLMAR -- Alfredo Encarnacion Hernandez, 22, of Willmar, pleaded guilty Friday to an amended charge of second-degree drug sales and will likely be sentenced to 57 months in prison.

As part of a plea agreement reached in Kandiyohi County District Court, the charge was reduced from first-degree and he will serve a "top of the box" sentence based on state sentencing guidelines. Three additional charges, one felony and one gross misdemeanor for storing methamphetamine paraphernalia in the presence of children, plus a gross misdemeanor for being in possession of a pistol as a drug user, were dismissed.

Hernandez and Tiffany Marie Stein, 21, also of Willmar, were charged after CEE-VI Drug Task Force agents searched their apartment along Second Street Southeast on Nov. 11. Stein faces three felony charges, for drug sale, possession and meth paraphernalia, plus three gross misdemeanors for child endangerment and gun possession by a drug user. She pleaded not guilty on Jan. 20 and has a pre-trial hearing on March 29.

According to the complaint, Stein told agents she had meth in her pocket when they entered the home. Two bags, each with 7.2 grams of meth, were located in a bedroom, along with scales, glass pipes, cash, surveillance equipment and night vision goggles and a .22-caliber rifle. Two children, ages 2 and 4, were also in the home. Stein allegedly said she has lost her job and they had fallen on hard times. Hernandez said they started selling methamphetamine to pay their bills.

Gretchen Schlosser is the public safety reporter, and writes about agriculture occasionally, for the West Central Tribune. She's been with the Tribune since 2006 and has 17 years of experience working in news, media and communications.